High School Sports

Aptos senior Nick Tovani had a team-best 20 points for the Mariners boys’ basketball team in their 71-56 loss to Bellarmine in the 76th Annual Carmel Invitational on Dec. 21. Fellow teammate Isaiah Ackerman contributed 12 points, while Ryan Solorio had 10 points for Aptos,...

SALINAS—The Monte Vista Christian football team had to play until the final whistle to stun previously unbeaten Alisal High on Thursday night.  The Mustangs scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and made a defensive stop on the final play of the game en route...

This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Dec. 26-31.  Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores and stats to [email protected]. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes on Twitter @jmreyes831 for score and...

In the span of just one year, Watsonville High senior Joselyn Gutierrez went from learning the basics of wrestling to qualifying for a state berth.   The standout Wildcatz athlete took fourth in the 130-pound weight class bracket at the Central Coast Section Masters Tournament held...

Aptos senior Sofia Contreras last week missed her departure to go on a cruise ship with her family for a trip of a lifetime to Mexico. Instead, she decided to spend the time with her Mariners girls’ water polo teammates as they continued their journey...

Several local softball programs had trouble getting the 2025 spring season in full gear with the large amounts of rain pouring all over Santa Cruz County in February.   But with the wet conditions coming to a slight trickle, teams such as Aptos and 10th-year head...

The confidence meter continues to grow for St. Francis after winning a fifth consecutive match Thursday night. In a clean sweep, the Sharks defeated North Salinas in three sets 25-19, 25-16, 27-25 in Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division play.   Senior outside hitter Peyton Orradre...

St. Francis junior Miriam Abonce pointed out that anytime someone steps into their gymnasium to check out all of the league title banners, none of them say girls soccer. That all changed this year following a Pacific Coast Athletic League title run that saw the...

WATSONVILLE—At times, it takes a while for a football team with new players on the roster to develop trust and cohesiveness. That hasn’t been the case for St. Francis senior Diego Wolfe and the Sharks who are off to their best start in school history. “...

SAN FRANCISCO—Aptos High senior Caden Prichard stood on the sideline Friday night as he watched the seconds tick away in his final season.     With tears rolling down his cheeks, he gave every one of his teammates one last hug after the No. 3-seeded Mariners lost...